Electrical switch



June 4, .1940. o. 'FROLAND ELECTRICAL sun-ca Filed Aug. 19, 19 37 2Sheets-Sheet 1 .5 mum/70,2

OLA 1/ Few AND ATTORNEY June 1940- O. FROLAND 2,203,350

- ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Aug. 19, 1957 2 s-Sheet 2 zzo I if;

ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES ELECTRICAL SWITCH OlavFroland, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to James R. Kearney Corporation, St.Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 19, 1937,Serial No. 159,889

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical switches and morespecifically to an improved electrical switch of the dead bladedisconnect type, the predominant object of the invention being toprovide a switch of this type which because of its improved constructionand arrangement is capable of highly efficient use.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide adisconnect switch of the type disclosed herein which includes animproved arrangement for releasably latching the blade of the switch inthe closed switch position.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide adisconnect or other type of electrical switch which includes improvedmeans for securing contact elements of the contacts of the switch inplace.

Fig. 1 is a view of the improved switch partly in side elevation andpartly in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the switch illustrated in Fig. 1 with thedoor broken away to reveal switch parts located within the switchhousing.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line.

55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improvedswitch generally. The switch A includes a housing I of suitable shapeand dimensions to receive the switch mechanism, said housing havingsecured thereto by suitable fastening elements 2 a bracket 3 whichserves to secure the switch to a crossarm or other support. The housingpreferably, though not necessarily, is formed of porcelain, and the openfront of the housing is provided with a door 4 for closing said openfront of the housing. The door 4 is formed of Bakelite or other suitablematerial and is hingedly supported at its upper end by a horizontal rod5 which extends through an opening formed through the upper portion ofthe door and is embedded at its opposite ends in opposed portions of thehousing.

In order to retain the door 4 in the closed and open positions anextension 5' is formed on said door at its upper end, this'extension,and adjacent portions of the door having applied thereto a strip 6 ofmetal or other suitable material which, because of the extension 5", isprovided with opposed shoulders 6a and 6b. The top wall of the housing Iis provided with an aperture 1 in which is cemented a sleeve 8, saidsleeve having arranged therein a plunger 9 which is provided at itslower face with a tapered downwardly extended-lug Ill. The plunger 9 isurged downwardly by a coil spring H which contacts at its opposite endswith a face of the plunger and the top wall of the aperture 1. in theclosed position the outer face of the lug l0 contacts with the shoulder6a as shown in Fig. 1 and restrains the lower end of the door frommoving outwardly and upwardly toward the open When the door 4 isposition. In like manner when the door is in the fully open positionwhere it extends horizontally extensions l5 which are preferably shapedas -1.;

shown to the best advantage in Fig. 5. The extensions l5 of thesupporting element [5 are projected into openings l6 formed in the rearwall of the housing I, which openings are substantially larger in lengthand diameter than said extensions, and cement or other suitable sealingmaterial H, which is characterized by the ability to harden after beingintroduced into the openings IS in a fluid or plastic condition, isarranged in said openings. Because of the depressions l6 formed in thewalls of the openings l6 and the annular tapered depressions l5ai formedin the surfaces of the extensions IS the bodies of cement are keyedwithin the openings and to the extensions whereby the supporting elementi5 is securely fastened in place.

' The supporting element l5 of the lower contact has formed in itsforward face a relatively narrow groove 18 which preferably is open atthe lower face of the supporting element as shown in Fig. 5. Also thesupporting element has formed transversely therethrough' a plurality ofvertically spaced'openings I 9, said openings being so placed.

that at the base of the groove l8 they take the form of segmentaldepressions, while in the portions of the supporting element at oppositesides .of the groove they are in their full round form (see Figs. 3 and5). The lower contact includes also a'plurality of contact elements 20which are formed'of' lengths of heavy wire or the equivalent thereof,said lengths of wire being extended through the transverse openings l9-so that the center portions thereof are seated in the segmentaldepressions at the base of the groove I3. The contact elements whenviewed in plan have the shape illustrated in Fig. 3; that is to sayopposed portions 26c extend forwardly from the opposite ends of theportions that are located in the openings l9 and the forward endportions of said elements are bent inwardly and rearwardly to provideportions 281) with which the switch blade contacts.

The contact elements 20 are assembled with the supporting element l5 bypassing said contact elements through the openings l9 while said con-.tact elements are in a straight condition. The contact elements aresecured to the supporting element by forming a weld 22 in the groove I8,the body of metal forming the weld being built up within the groove i8so that the center portions of the contact elements 20 are embedded inthe weld and between the body of metal forming the weld and thesegmental seats at the base of the groove. Because of this arrangementthe contact elements are very securely and perma nently fixed to thesupporting element of the contact whereby a durable and convenientlyformed connection between the contact elements and the supportingelement of the contact is provided. After the contact elements have beenassembled with the supporting element as described said contact elementsare shaped as shown in Fig. 3 and as above described, either-before orafter the welding operation.

The upper portion of the supporting element it of the lower contact I2is of slightly increased width in the forward portion of said supportingelement, and at the forward face of the supporting element immediatelyadjacent to the top thereof a curved seat 23 is provided. Associatedwith the supporting element I5 is a clamping member 2d which includes acurved upper portion provided with a curved seat 25 (Fig. l)complementary to the curved seat 23 of the supporting element. Theclamping member 24 extends downwardly from the curved upper portionthereof and its lower portion is of slightly reduced width and isbifurcated to provide a pair of transversely spaced legs 2t which attheir lower ends contact with the forward face of the supporting elementat opposite sides of the groove I8 there- The clamping member isprovided with a pair of opposed rearwardly extended lugs 26 which aredisposed beyond opposite side faces of the supporting element so as toaline the clamping member with respect to the supporting element, and anelectrical conductor Ca which forms a part of the circuit with which theswitch is associated is clamped between the curved seat 25 of theclamping member and the curved seat 23 of the supporting element so asto electrically connect the lower contact in the circuit. Clampingaction between the clamping member, and the supporting element isobtained through the use of bolts 2! which pass through openings formedin the clamping member and are screwed into screwthreaded openingsformed in the supporting element and are adapted to move the clampingmember rearwardly to clamp the conductor Ca .between the curved faces 25and 23 of the clamping member and supporting element respectively.

The upper contact [3 is constructed and arranged just as is the lowercontact l2 previously described in detail herein; that is to say theupper contactincludes a supporting element 28 which is anchored to therear wall of the housing I just as is the supporting element [5 of thelower contact. Likewise the upper contact includes a plurality ofcontact elements 29 that are secured to the supporting element bywelding as described in connection with the lower contact. Furthermorethe upper contact includes a clamping mem-- ber 38 which cooperates withthe upper portion of the supporting element 28 in the manner describedin connection with the lower contact to electrically connect a conductorCb, which forms a part of the circuit with which the switch isassociated, to the upper contact.

The upper contact i3 includes as a part thereof an element 3! acounterpart of which is not included as a part of the lower contact L2.This element 3! includes a vertically disposed web 32 which 'at itslower portion is provided with a pair of opposed laterally andrearwardly extended cars 33 through which bolts or other suitablefastening devices M are passed, said bolts being screwed intoscrewthreaded openings formed in the lower portion of the supportingelement 28 of the upper contact so as to secure the element 3! to saidsupporting element. The rear end of the web 32 of the element 3i islocated at the forward face of the supporting element 28, and at theforward end of said web laterally projected flanges 35 are projectedtherefrom to provide the element 3i with a broad forward face. The broadforward face of the element 3| includes a vertically disposed upperportion and a vertically disposed lower portion which is locatedrearwardly of the vertical upper portion as shown in Fig. l, and saidupper and lower vertical portions of said broad forward face are joinedby an inclined face portion. At the top of the element 3| the transversefianges 35 extend rearwardly to the face of the clamping member 30, andat forward lower end of said element a latch engaging member 35 isprovided thereon.

The switch blade it of the improved structure is pivotally attached atits lower end, through the instrumentality of a pivot pin 31, to aforwardly extended arm 38 which is suitably secured within the lowerportion of the housing i. The blade is composed of a pair of likeelongated elements arranged parallel with each other and spaced apartslightly as shown in Fig. 2, said elongated elements being connectedtogether by a plurality of pins 39 which are embraced by tubular spacers40 which are interposed between the elongated, elements and maintain thespacing thereof. In order to secure the switch blade in the closedswitchposition where it is in contact elements 283 and 29 of the lower andupper contacts of the switch a latch ll is provided (Fig. 1). which ismounted for rotary movement between the elongated elements of the bladeon one of the pin and spacer. assemblies thereof. The latch ll includesa shoulder 4i and an extension 42, and additionally said latch includesan car 43 which receives an end of a coil spring 44. The opposite end ofthe coil spring is attached to a lower pin and spacer assembly as shownin Fig. land said operator is provided with an outer downwardly extendedextension 48 which is adapted to engage the extension 42 of the latch,an inner, rearwardly and downwardly projected extension 49 which isadapted to contact with the broad forward face of the element 3|, and a.

rearwardly and upwardly projected extension 58 which is adapted tocontact with theuppermost pin and spacer assembly of the switch blade tolimit outward movement of the upper portion of the latch operator.

When the improved switch is in use the switch blade I4 is in thevertical position shown in Fig. l where said blade is forced between theportions 20?) of the contact elements 20 of the lower contact l2 andsimilar forward portions of the contact elements 29 of the upper contactI3, and with the switch blade so disposed current passes through theswitch blade from one to the other contact. When it is desired towithdraw the switch blade from its effective position the door 4 israised to its open position and the pull ring 41 of the latch operator46 is engaged by a suitable tool and said pull ring is pulled outwardlyto rotate the latch operator about the pin 45. Such rotation of thelatch operator causes the extension 48 thereof to move the extension 42of thelatch inwardly with a consequent lowering of the rear portion ofthe latch that disengages the shoulder 4| of the latch from the latchengaging member 36 of the element 3|. Simultaneously with thedisengagement of the latch from the latch engagement member 36 the lowerend of the extension 49 moves in camming contact with the broad forwardface of the element 3| with the result that the upper portion of theswitch blade is moved outwardly by such camming action. Rotation of thelatch operator about the pin 45 continues until the extension 50contacts with the uppermost of the pin and spacer assemblies of theswitch blade and such contact serves to rigidly connect the latchoperator and the switch blade together for unitary outward movement sothat continuation of the outward movement of the pull ring 41 willresult in the switch blade being drawn out of contact with the contactelements of the upper and lower contacts. When complete withdrawal ofthe switch blade has been accomplished said switch blade hangsdownwardly in a vertical position from the pivot pin 31, an opening 5|being provided in the bottom wall of the housing I to receive the switchblade when it is in such disengaged position.

To move the switch blade from its open position to the closed switchposition the pull ring is engaged by a tool and the free'end of saidswitch blade is moved outwardly and upwardly, such movement causing thelatch operator 46 to contact with the pin and washer assembly locatedimmediately adjacent to said free end of the switch blade. Such movementof the switch blade is continued until the switch blade reaches itsclosed position where it is forced between the forward portions of theswitch elements 20 and 29 of the lower and upper contacts I2 and it. Asthe switch blade approaches the switch closed position the rearwardportion of the latch 4| is cammed downwardly by the inclined face of thelatch-engaging member 36 and when the shoulder 4| of the latch haspassed said latchengaging member and resumes its'elevated position saidshoulder is engaged by the latch-engaging member to secure the switchblade in the closed switch position.

When the contact elements 20 and 29 are secured in place by welding theheat incident to the welding operations may, in some cases, tend toremove the temper from said contact elements. When this happens thecontact elements may be retempered while assembled with the associatedsupporting elements l5 and 28 in an obvious manner.

I claim:

1. An'electrical switch provided with a contact which includes asupporting element having a transversely extended opening formed thereinand open at opposite edges of said supporting element and provided witha groove which extends at an approximate right angle to said opening andopens into said opening, a switch element supported in said opening andextended transversely of and within said groove, and a weld formed insaid groove for securing said switch element in said opening and to saidsupporting element.

2. An electrical switch provided with a contact which includes asupporting element having a plurality of horizontally extended,vertically spaced openings formed therein and open at opposite edges ofsaid supporting element and provided with a vertically extended groovewhich opens into said openings, switch elements supported in saidopenings and extended transversely of and within said groove, and a weldformed in said groove for securing said switch elements in said openingsand to said supporting elements.

3. An electrical switch provided with a contact which includes asupporting element having a plurality of horizontally extended,vertically spaced openings formed therein and open at opposite edges ofsaid supporting element and provided with a vertically extended groovewhich opens into said openings at the approximate centers thereof,switch elements supportedin said openings and extended transversely ofand within said groove, and a weld formed in said groove for securingsaid switch elements in said openings and to said supporting elements.

4. An electrical switch provided with a contact which includes asupporting element having a plurality of horizontally extended,vertically spaced openings formed therein and open at 0pposite edges ofsaid supporting element and provided with a vertically extended groovewhich opens into said openings, switch elements supported in saidopenings and extended transversely of and within said groove, a weldformed in said groove for securing said switch elements in said openingsand to said supporting elements and means for attaching an electricalconductor to said contact.

5. An electrical switch provided with a contactwhich includes asupporting element having a plurality of horizontally extended,vertically spaced openings formed therein and open at opposite edges ofsaid supporting element and provided with a vertically extended groovewhich opens into said openings, switch elements supported in saidopenings and extended transversely of and within said groove, a weldformed in said groove for securing said switch elements in said openingsand-to said supporting elements and means including a clamping memberfor attaching an electrical conductor to said contact.

OLAV FROLAND.

